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Entries for February 2014

Recently, newspapers and wire agencies were abuzz with a dramatic archaeological discovery—a pelvic bone believed to belong either to King Alfred the Great, or his son King Edward the Elder, had been found inside a box at the excavation site of the medieval abbey in Winchester. This discovery is not only pivotal in that it ended a millennium-long hunt for the remains of the first king of England, it’s crucial in demonstrating how the efforts of Earthwatch volunteers can go a long way in making history.

Ken and Margaret Mallory each joined an Earthwatch Expedition looking for adventure and new experiences. They ended up finding each other. The couple, now married for over 30 years, met on the Pokot: Kenya expedition in 1974, where they joined anthropologist Dr. Jean Brown to research the Pokot, one of Kenya’s indigenous tribes.

Although named the common loon, little is known about this migratory bird’s behavior and its significance as an indicator of aquatic and marine health. Earthwatch scientist, Jim Paruk, has passionately studied this bird for over two decades and is discovering, among other things, that the 2010 gulf oil spill might have severe long-lasting effects on this threatened North American species.